The contemporary global order is defined by a "polycrisis"—a cascade of interconnected geopolitical, ecological, and technological shocks threatening the stability of international institutions and norms. This condition is not merely a confluence of discrete crises but a symptom of a deeper metacrisis rooted in the unresolved philosophical contradictions of modernity and postmodernity. These contradictions manifest in the Copernican Double Bind, where scientific de-centering of humanity clashes with philosophical re-centering, leading to a Hyper/Postmodern Duality (HPD) that paralyzes governance.
Both the modern logic of International Relations, with its state-centric focus, and the deconstructive logic of Global Political Theory, emphasizing pluralism and critique, are inadequate for addressing the planetary-scale challenges of the Anthropocene. This paper develops a Metamodern Political Theory as a constructive, post-critical alternative synthesizing the strengths of modernism’s ambition and postmodernism’s reflexivity, while transcending their limitations.
Methodologically, it draws on Archdisciplinarity, a higher-order framework identifying universal patterns, or "arches," across diverse metatheories, thereby overcoming disciplinary silos and fostering integrative discourse. The theory is grounded in an ontoethical method deriving prescriptive principles for governance from a relational ontology, challenging the is–ought dichotomy by arguing that entangled realities imply ethical imperatives.
This approach yields a planetary governance architecture defined by five interlocking logics: fractal (scale-invariant, nested sovereignty), complex (adaptive metastability), computational (legible planetary stack), grammatological (ontoethical protocols for technodiversity), and evolutionary (institutional learning through variation-selection). These align with archdisciplinary "arches" such as fractality, complexity, and developmental stages, providing a robust synthesis.
The framework is applied to geopolitical tensions in a post-liberal order, cultural cleavages at the family-technology nexus, and the role of the Catholic Church in planetary crises, demonstrating its capacity to generate concrete institutional templates for “ontoethical design” that navigate the technocracy–democracy dilemma.
By addressing the moral and political dilemmas of changing global orders—such as the rise of illiberal actors, the reconfiguration of sovereignty, the reimagining of democracy amid new power centers, and the inclusion of marginalized voices—this metamodern approach offers a credible transition from the unsustainable present to a resilient, pluralistic, and legitimate planetary future. It aligns with current debates on post-liberal orders and global transitions. It proposes a synthesis bridging macro-planetary and micro-cultural concerns, informed by Hegelian insights on rational life and cosmic purpose.
This approach critiques failures of liberal internationalism and offers practical tools for navigating the polycrisis through innovative institutional designs that emphasize symbiosis and adaptability.
